India calls for Global Equity and a People-Centric Approach in Just Transition at CoP30, in Belém, Brazil

By R Anil Kumar

• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasises need for a Just Transition Mechanism for Developing Countries respecting National Circumstances

• India warns against Unilateral Trade-Restrictive Climate Measures undermining Equity and Justice

Belém/ Brazil, November 20, 2025. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, addressed the Third Annual High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on Just Transition under the UAE Just Transition Work Programme during UNFCCC CoP30 in Belém, Brazil on 20.11.2025. He welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the ministerial deliberations, noting that the four dialogues held so far have been engaging and a good platform to put across views.

The Minister underlined that the dialogues have firmly established that a just transition extends far beyond the energy sector, calling it “an economy-wide, all-inclusive, people-centred transformation that must respect national circumstances, ensure equity, and secure social justice”. He emphasised that such a transition must enable all countries to contribute their fair share to global mitigation efforts without compromising developmental imperatives.

Mr.Yadav highlighted that just transition inherently includes strengthening resilience, creating employment, protecting livelihoods, eradicating poverty, ensuring food security, and providing social protection. He stressed that each nation must retain the ability to chart its own sustainable development pathways consistent with their national priorities and circumstances.”

Pointing to the diverse starting diversity reinforces the need for nationally determined and demand-driven approaches. He stated that these pathways must avoid any uniform or prescriptive model. Mr. Yadav further added that global equity must remain at the core of all just transition efforts and stated, “Developing countries require sufficient policy space to bridge development gaps, address systemic vulnerabilities, and ensure the well-being of their people according to their stage of development and national conditions.”

The Minister expressed concern over emerging unilateral actions, and stated, “Unilateral actions—particularly trade-restrictive climate measures—undermine the principles of equity and justice and act as serious dis-enablers of a fair and equitable just transition”. He called for enhanced international cooperation, strong multilateralism, and affordable, accessible and adequate means of implementation for developing countries as essential components of a truly just and equitable global transition.

On concrete outcomes for the UAE Just Transition Work Programme, Mr. Yadav said that India, along with other developing countries, strongly supports the creation of a Just Transition Mechanism. He noted that such a mechanism is crucial for bridging existing gaps and advancing practical solutions, stating that for the Global South, “affordable and adequate access to finance, technology, and capacity building—aligned with national circumstances—is vital to ensure that no one is left behind.”

The Minister concluded by expressing India’s expectation of an ambitious and meaningful outcome at CoP30, and stated, “India looks forward to an ambitious outcome at Belém, with the establishment of this Mechanism to address a critical gap in delivering the Convention and Paris Agreement. We must now operationalise Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) to advance a truly just transition.”